July 7
The Importance of
Doing Your Best
“Work hard and you will be a leader; be lazy and you will be a slave.”
Proverbs 12:24 (NIrV)
Rick had always been the kind of guy who liked to get things done quickly. His work as a builder wasn’t always easy, but it paid the bills. On this particular job, he had been assigned to build a fence for a client. It was a simple task, or at least that’s what Rick told himself. He knew that time was money, and the faster he finished, the sooner he could move on to other projects.
The day was already slipping away when he started on the fence. The ground was uneven, the posts needed a bit more digging, and the materials weren’t exactly top-notch. But Rick was feeling the pressure. The client wasn’t around, so why not take a few shortcuts? Just a few quick fixes here and there—no one would notice. It would still hold up, right?
As he hammered in the last post and stood back to admire his work, Rick felt a wave of pride. It was done. Sure, it wasn’t perfect, but it would do. He didn’t have the time or energy to go back and make it right, and it would certainly save him a few hours.
When the client came home and saw the fence, her face fell. The posts were crooked, some sections were wobbly, and the whole thing just felt off. She tried to hide her disappointment, but Rick could see it.
“I thought you said it would be sturdy,” she said, her voice tinged with concern.
Rick’s stomach dropped. He hadn’t put his best effort into it, and now it was clear. “It’s, uh, just the way the ground is,” Rick mumbled, trying to make an excuse. But deep down, he knew he could have done better.
As he drove home that night, guilt gnawed at him. He thought about his own pride, how he had wanted to take the easy way out. But the verse from Proverbs echoed in his mind: “Work hard and you will be a leader; be lazy and you will be a slave.” Rick realized he hadn’t just let his client down; he had let himself down.
He parked in front of his house and sat in the car for a moment. He knew what he had to do. It wasn’t just about the fence anymore. It was about doing his best in all aspects of life, no matter how small the task seemed.
Rick went to bed that night praying for strength and wisdom. He asked God to help him make things right, not just for the client, but for his own character.
The next morning, Rick called the client. “I’ve been thinking about the fence, and I want to come back and fix it properly. I’m sorry for not giving you my best work. You deserve better.”
The client was surprised but appreciated the honesty. Rick returned, redid the posts, and ensured everything was secure and straight. It took longer than he expected, but as he worked, he felt a sense of peace that came from doing things the right way.
Prayer:
Dear God,
Thank You for showing me the importance of doing my best, no matter how big or small the task.
Help me to honor You with my work and with my actions, knowing that excellence reflects my commitment to You.
Please give me the strength to be honest with myself and others, and to take responsibility for my mistakes.
I want to be someone who works hard and leads with integrity.
In Jesus' name, Amen.
